Added 4/2014: this was my summer 2013 group and is closed. Monitor my Ravelry group or my blog for future opportunities! Need a link?My Rav group… My Blog… I have a book coming June 2014, and there are doilies! Questions? email me: BadCatDesigns@verizon.net

I know that I have been negligent in my group project this summer. It is not from lack of desire, but more due to lack of time! I guess that is a good thing, because I have been very busy designing. I won’t get a real group project up and running until late September, at the rate I am going. So to make up for my woeful negligence (with some coxing from my friends) I decided to share a little something with you, to keep hot summer hands knitting away. This group is free, and open to the first 200 people who request membership. Once the group fills up you will have to wait for me to publish the pattern file!

In a nut shell, we will be knitting doilies. What!? Yes, I said doilies.

Here are the benefits: They require very little yarn, very little time, are a great way to practice techniques, are a great way to try out a new yarn, can be made with cotton so will not make you sweat, are charming.

Here are the risks: really, I can’t think of any. If you give them a try and decide you do not enjoy them, all you will have lost is a small amount of time.

The group will include directions and a chart for one of my brand new, original doily patterns, plus technique “tutorials” for techniques I use to make doilies. You will need small (maybe 100 yards) of yarn and a set of double point needles. I will have a full materials list posted to the group. I use #10 crochet cotton or #8 Perle cotton and US 1 needles, but you can use ANY yarn you like (and choose needle size for your yarn.) We will include a discussion on great ideas for using your finished doilies in unique ways. If you end up loving the process, we can also work on my Little Flower doily, which is already available as a free download. If you still love it after that you can be excited about my collection of doily patterns, coming some time soon.

Would you like to join me? Follow the link below and request membership. There is no fee, but I want to make sure those joining are really knitters and not just trolling. When you request membership be sure to include your name and which of my groups you belong to. Add BadCatGardenParty@yahoogroups.com to your “allowed” emails if you want to be sure to get group emails.